Royce Stauffer, KO6PM, was a friend of mine! I remember when he and Millie, the love of his life, first came around and became active members of SBARC. When he would obtain a new radio, it wouldn't be too long before I would get a call from him for a little hands-on instruction on how to work it. It was always a fun drive over to Royce and Millie's concrete block house at the foot of Toro Canyon (which he personally built) to spend some quality time with the two of them. Royce may have been a chemist, but he was not an electronics person. Operating many of the newer radios did not come easy to him. In fact, on several occasions, Royce would bring a couple of radios to our SBARC Club meetings and I spotted him making a bee-line to me after he came in the door. "Here, I can't get anywhere with these. Take them." I asked him if he wanted them back once I got them working. He told me to find a good home for them, which I was happy to do. There are are few lucky hams around who, unbeknownst to them, have Royce's radios!
When Millie went to Ham Heaven, Royce's life completely changed. He was never the same again. A few times, Royce came to our gatherings after losing his most favorite person in the world. Anyone could tell that he was not the same person anymore. It was as if his heart had been ripped out from him. Royce was such a sweet person and all his friends felt his loss deeply. Earlier last month, I felt that I should give a call to Royce as we had not seen him around for quite a while. I don't know how that idea popped into my head. Now I find out that, most likely, no one would have answered his phone as he was already in Heaven. Have you been thinking about calling anyone? My suggestion would be to do it now!
73, my good friend, Royce. didididadidah Darryl Widman, KF6DI
